Apparatus for manufacturing copies



June 14, 1966 w. LIMBERGER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COPIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1964 June 14, 1966 w. LIMBERGER 3,255,663

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COPIES Filed on. s, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 reversal.

United States Patent 3,255,663 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COPIES Walter Limberger, Hamburg-Poppenbuttel, Germany, assignor to Lumoprint Zindler KG, Hamburg, Germany Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,525 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 10, 1963,

Claims. to]. 88-24) and a receiving material are processed together with the original. Expenditure is comparatively high, even when the dispenser is omitted and the papers are introduced by hand; this presupposes in turn a rather high degree of dexterity.

Similar considerations also apply to the so-called dry transfer methods,'whether based on chemical or on physical effects.

Moreover, these apparatus are suitable for processing only one copying sheet. The apparatus must contain a transfer arrangement in order to produce a positive copy of the original. There are known in the art, for example, electro-photographic methods using a transfer layer carrier within the apparatus from which the exposed picture is transferred to a carrier of the receiving layer on which it is then developed. For this purpose it is only necessary to introduce the carrier of the receiving layer together with the original.

Naturally, it is also possible to develop a negative; several methods have already been proposed-also in conjunction with the above-mentioned electro-photographic method-for rendering the negative carrier transparent so as torproduce a positive reproduction by viewing it from the rear. Also here, the expenditure is quite considerable.

The present invention has the object of providing a new apparatus for manufacturing copies, using a sheet of copying material. It is based on the so-called Sabatier fi'ect, known with photographic materials and causing a Materials suitable for this method are commercially available in the form of photographic silver salt papers, such as sold, for example, under the trade name A-gp. The invention has also the project of producing a positive reproduction without the use of any intermediate transfer, and of avoiding the drawbacks resulting from the making of reproductions on transparent carriers which are viewed from the rear. These drawbacks are caused, on the one hand, by the manufacture of the materials themselves, and on the other hand by the possibly incorrect method of viewing the reproductions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of simple construction, the manufacture of which is comparatively inexpensive, which has small dimensions and which, in a particularly preferred embodiment, has only a single path for a copying sheet on which a positive reproduction is produced after the exposure.

Where the processing of the copying sheet is mentioned in the following specification, the invention comprises, together with the dispenser-like arrangement, both an arrangement for a stack of sheets and for a roll of copying paper, the latter preferably in conjunction with a cutting device, in order to separate the copying material in the "ice form of sheets from the storage reel under the control of the device.

It is also known to provide switches on the inlet slide for the original and/or for the copying material, which are operated as a function of the insertion and trigger off switching processes actuating the apparatus. The invention also relates to these embodiments.

The object of the invention is realized by means of using photographic silver salt papers and by subdividing the developing section incorporating an intermediate exposure device between two supply arrangements for processing fluids to the exposed paper.

It is also known in the art to provide successively developing and copying baths. However, hitherto no device has become known for manufacturing copies and suitable for ordinary office use, comprising in a closed housing a divided developing section and an intermediate exposure source.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises, between the first supply device for the processing fluid and the intermediate exposure source, a moisture dosage arrangement for adjusting a limited moisture content.

Conveniently, the moisture dosage arrangement forms simultaneously the conveying means and is formed by a driven pair of squeeze rollers which are equipped in this case with means for adjusting the contact pressure.

It is a substantial feature of the invention that, contrary to hitherto known apparatus for manufacturing copies or for developing ordinary photographic materials, this squeezing arrangement consisting of a pair of squeeze rollers is not designed to remove the moisture as completely as possible, but has the object of allowing a certain amount of developing fluid to remain in the material. Here, it is a novel feature that a dosage can be effected by means of a pair of squeeze rollers by varying their contact pressure. Naturally, the setting of the absolute value of this contact pressure will depend on the nature of the material used and especially on that of the carrier, as well as on the type of supply arrangement for the processing fluid. If, for example, known troughs are used through which the copying material passes, the value of the contact pressure will differ from that applied with a surface wetting device, such as a roller for applying the processing fluid.

Moreover, the fact that according to the invention, two supply arrangements for the processing liquid are provided, must also be taken into consideration.

Although developing and fixing baths are known in photographic developing processes. However, in commercial devices for making copies for oflice purposes, two baths are usually avoided so that, for example, in the silver salt diffusion method which anyway must operate with two sheets and is therefore disadvantageous, socalled fixing developers must be used.

According to the invention, on the other hand, the developing section is divided into two supply arrangements for the processing fluid, an intermediate exposure light source, that is to say, a source additional to that used in known apparatus for manufacturing copies, is provided between the parts of the subdivided developing section, and a moisture dosage equipment is provided between the first supply arrangement and the intermediate exposure source. This subassembly forms a novel combination which, in spite of the number of parts, presents no noticeable expenditure compared with known apparatus, if it is taken into account that it comprises the essential parts of the apparatus. It must here be taken into consideration that, for example, an intermediate exposure source does not entail any substantial expenditure, that at least one pair of squeeze rollers must be any way provided, and that fluid supply arrangements rollers serve simultaneously as conveying means.

the designation of to the invention.

are standardized components the use of which presents only little expenditure.

In addition to this combination which forms an essential feature of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment a drying unit is provided downstream of the second supply arrangement, the action of the said drying unit terminating the effect of the medium applied by the said second supply arrangement.

The intermediate exposure source is a very high intensity source with preferably adjustable intensity and/or acting through an aperture with adjustable width.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply arrangements may have the form of known surface wetting devices, with the intermediate exposure source being provided between the application rollers thereof and the fluid dosage arrangement.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is based on an apparatus, comprising an optical exposure with exposure plate and contact rollers, wherein the said contact Conveniently also from the viewpoint of minimum dimensions for the apparatus so as to make the same even better suitable for oifice use, the exposure arrangement is located in the developing section so that the functional parts are used to their optimum efficiency.

The path of the exposure rays is substantially L-shaped and the copying material follows an S-shaped track, starting in the stack holder below the horizontal leg of the exposure path, above which the developing section is mounted; then the material is deflected so as to enter a delivery slot, upstream of which it passes through a drying section. An exposure station may be located on the upper side of the apparatus at the end of the substantially vertical leg of the L-shaped exposure path so that the original can be easily passed through these stations.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to several preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation of the apparatus according to the invention in cross-section;

FIG. 2 shows an operating or functional circuit of the apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic-a1 side elevation of a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in which other components are used;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the apparatus according to the invention.

The photochemical method used in the apparatus according to the present invention is known per se. For processing the above-mentioned photographic silver salt paper, a first bath or a first fluid application device may be used which applies a photographic developer and more particularly a fixing developer, such as known under rapid developers. The second processing fluid supply arrangement serves for stabilizing; here a know fixing agent may be used.

Fixing developers used in the first bath are known in the art. Reference is made, by way of example, to Kompendium der Fotografie by Dr. Edwin Mutter, vol. II, pages 122 to 124.

The said second fluid supply arrangement can operate with so-called fixing baths, such as described, for example, in Das grosse Agfa Labor-Handbuch 8th edition, page 118.

In the following a novel composition is specified for the fixing developer of the first processing station of the developing section which has been found to be particularly advantageous when used in the apparatus according This fixing developer is combined from three solutions, referred to hereinafter as solutions A, B and C, respectively.

The fixing developer is then combined from 10 parts by volume of solution A 5 parts by volume of solution B 2 parts by volume of solution C According to a preferred embodiment of the second fluid supply arrangement, a bath is used, having the following composition:

Sodium thiosulphate cryst 200 grams.

Potassium metabisulphite 20 grams. Water cc.

These references comprise a preferred embodiment and indicate materials withwhich the invention may be carried out.

The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a housing shown generally at 1. This housing encloses the operating parts in a particularly advantageous arrangement. The said housing has a cover 2 equipped with slots 3. This cover serves simultaneously as feed table for the original into a sub-unit 4 of the exposure device, housed in an upright portion of the housing, and access to which is through a slot 5, whilst the original is discharged therefrom through an outlet slot 6 on to a delivery table 7, formed on the rear wall of the housing.

The cover 2 continues on the front wall of the housing 1 with a wall section 8, terminating at an outlet 10 above a receiving dish 9, and leaving free a slot-shaped orifice 11, under the receiving table or dish 9, the front wall forms a wall section 12. The base is shown at 13.

The exposure sub-unit comprises an exposure plate 14, the upper surface of which is substantially aligned with the cover 2 and having a light-permeable center slot extending perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. In wall, not shown and extending parallel to the plane of the drawing, there is arranged above this exposure plate 14 a transport and contact roller 16, mounted in these walls by means of pin-shaped projections on its core; this roller 16 is equipped with an elastic shell 17 of rubber, which may, if desired, be covered with fabric. This roller may be drivingly actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow 18. Its mounting is such that during the transport of an original introduced through the inlet, contact pressure is exerted substantially over the width of the light-permeable slot. A shutter covers the plate on either side of this slot.

'Under the exposure plate, there is a chamber 18 with exposure devices 19, 20 which illuminate the slot 105. These exposure devices may be ordinary incandescent lamps or fluorescent lamps. The bottom 21 of the said chamber has an orifice 22, extending at least commensurably with the length of the said slot in the exposure plate, and connected thereto a downwardly directed channel 23. One side of the said channel is defined by a wall section 106 and the other side by the intermediate partitioning wall 24, whilst the side walls, not shown, are formed by the side walls extending parallel to the plane of the drawing. At the lower end of the channel 23, there is a radiation deflector 25, such as a mirror, deflecting the light along a horizontal path 26 defined by the intermediate top and bottom walls 27, 28 and closed at its end by a plate 29, corresponding to the plate the passage of the sheet of copying material.

shown in the drawing, the sections of the light path are equipped with numerous diaphragms, 32, 33, in order to eliminate edge blurring. The light path is defined on the sides parallel to the plane of the drawing by opaque side members.

By means of this arrangement, and especially of the section 26, the interior of the apparatus is sub-divided between the said walls. It should here be mentioned that the plate 29 is located in spaced relationship'to the wall section 12. Between the wall section 12 and the plate, the main wallscarry a contact and transport roller 34, corresponding to the contact and transport roller 14 and drivingly actuable in the direction of the arrow 35.

Underneath the intermediate wall 27, there is located a dispenser, shown generally at 36, and of known construction, such as disclosed, for example, in the applicants United States Patents Nos. 3,143,947 and 3,033,095, or in United States Patent No. 3,100,432. Here, it need only be mentioned that a stack of sheets of copying material 37 is provided and that the top sheet of this stack is associated with a drivingly actuable transport member 38 located in the main walls of the apparatus, whilst at the outlet of the device there may be arranged a separating or blocking device 39, as mentioned in the precited sources, for preventing more than one sheet from being extracted from the stack.

Between the outlet 39 and the downwardly directed side of the slot between the plate 29 and the contact and transport roller 34, there is arranged between the side walls, a guide member 40, terminating at the roller 34. At the upper end of this slot, there is a conveying section, defined by the guides 41, 42. These guides lead to a developing device,shown generally at 45.

This developing section is subdivided as hereinbefore described. In this illustrated embodiment, it comprises two so-called surface developers. Each of these consists of a tank. 44, 45, mounted by means of brackets in spaced relationship on the wall 28. In these tanks revolve application rollers 46, 47 with spindles, not shown in detail, which may be mounted in the walls of the housing and which are driven by the main drive of the apparatus in the manner to be described in the following. Preferably, the drive is effected in the direction indicated by the arrows, although this is not essential, since another sense of rotation can be selected in conjunction with special conveying means in the conveying section, as indicated at 48, 49, and as disclosed in US. application, Serial Number 210,971. If the sense of rotation is that of the arrows shown in the drawing, different variations may be provided in the peripheral velocity relative to-the velocity of movement of the copying material.

The tanks 44, 45 are adapted to receive the fiuids specified hereinbefore, wherein one tank 44 contains the fixing developer and the other tank 45 the stabilizer or fixing bath.

Between the tanks, there is a second exposure light source 50, radiating into the conveyor section, defined on the top by the guide 51, through a slot 52 in the lower guide element 107. This light source is preferably a high-intensity light source. Conveniently, there may be provided an electronic flash, as known in amateur photography, and operable by a switch 107 triggered off during Otherwise it is also possible to use an ordinary incandescent lamp, but this would have to be a very high-intensity lamp. The slot 52 is itself adjustable in width by means of a shutter not shown in detail. This change may be desirable in view of the travelling speed of the sheet of copying material; however, a similar effect may also be produced by varying the intensity of the light emitted by the light source 50 by means of a series resistance. The said switch 107 may be located, for example, in the conveying section, forming transport means for the copying material, e.g., on the guide element 51.

Between the said second intermediate light source 50 and the application roller 46, there is preferably arranged in the zone above the tank 44 a pair of squeeze and transport rollers 53, 54. These rollers are rotatable in the side walls of the apparatus and are drivingly actuated from the right to the left side, as "viewed in FIG. 1. These rollers may be pressed against each other resiliently by spring means. Thus, for example, the bearing of the upper roller may be movable in the Walls in the direction towards the lower roller 54, and this hearing is affected by compression springs, supported at their other ends'by adjustable abutments. This arrangement will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

The construction of this pair 53, 54 of squeeze and transport rollers with adjusting means for producing the contact pressure presents an essential feature of the invention in the combination hereinbefore disclosed.

In the forward direction, that is to say, in FIG. 1 on the left side of the application roller, there is mounted in the side walls a conventional pair of squeeze and transport rollers 55, 56. Conveniently, this pair of rollers is arranged within the zone of the tank 45 so that liquid dripping off the rollers fi-ows back into this tank. The guide shown in the drawing and supported in the side walls lead to this pair of'rollers, whilst downstream thereof, there is a guide element 57, reversing the path of the material after passing the pair of rollers 55, 56 through substantially degrees, and carries this material to the upper surface of a guide surface 58, passing through the aperture 11 onto the delivery table 10. interrupted portion in which co-operating transport rollers 60, 61 are so mounted as to ensure the transport of the material over the discharge table 10 into the receiving dish 9, whilst the upper roller 60 0f this pair guided. the leading edge of a sheet of copying material into the slot 11. Also these rollers 60, 61 are mounted in the lateral side walls of the apparatus.

At least one drier 62 is arranged above the guide surface'SS; in the embodiment shown in the drawing, the said drier consists of three infrared radiators. From the viewpoint of the present invention it is regarded as essential that these radiators should emit mainly so-called dark radiation. However, it is also possible to use hot air driers. Also this drier forms an essential feature of the combination according to the invention, because it has the effect of preventing the excessive darkening of the copies under the action of the processing liquid in the tank 45.

In this connection, it should be stressed that the directional reversal effected by the guide member 58 is essential in order to produce, in a minimum space, a direct action of the drier 62 without incurring any unfavourable effects regarding evaporation of liquid from the tank and the like.

The embodiment shown in the drawing shows a particularly advantageous solution. Naturally, in order to remain within the scope of the present invention, it is not absolutely necessary to select an S-shaped path for the copying material, but the individual sections may also be arranged rectilinearly one behind the other. However, in the present embodiment, favourable operating conditions are obtained in that the sheets of copying material are delivered from the dispenser 36 with the coating facing upwards and that they leave the apparatus on the top together with the finished reproduction or copy. Furthermore, this arrangement provides a particularly compact construction, in which the heating elements are beeasily be removed by venting slots 3.

This guide surface may' have at 59 an Moreover, the invention is not necessarily linked with the use of the continuous exposure device shown in the drawing. It is also possible to use a surface or planar exposure device, in which, for example, a book is inserted into the upper sub-unit 4 of the exposure device, whilst at the other sub-unit with the exposure plate a sheet of copying material is retained stationary for an instant. This object may be realized by an intermittent drive of the roller 34 while the roller provides simultaneously a surface contact pressure.

A drive arrangement for the apparatus is shown, by way of example, in FIGURE 2. In order to render the operation automatic, this drive is equipped with a microswitch 63 whose operating member 64 protrudes into the inlet slot 5. A further microswitch 65 may be provided, the operating member 66 of which protrudes into the outlet orifice 11.

A connection 67, equipped with fuses and. main switches, supplies two conductors 68 and 69. From the conductor 69, a branch 79 leads to the switching members of the microswitch 63. Between these conductors are the light sources 19, 20 and a relay, the function of which is explained further below.

This circuit also contains a unit 72 with a driving motor 73 for the dispenser for thev copying material. This unit and dispenser may be constructed in various ways. In the arrangement 72, the arrangement is such that a motor 73 responds immediately on closure of the switch and a delayed de-energization is produced by a relay 74 connected in series to the motor 73. Connected in parallel to the said relay '74 are a delay capacitor '75 and a circuit 76, containing a working contact 77 of the relay.

A field circuit 78 contains a rest contact 79 of the relay, which contact is at first closed. When the switch 63 is closed, the motor 73 is started up and in accordance with the time constant of the capacitor the relay is energized with a certain delay, causing the contact 79 to open and the contact 77 to close so that the motor is again stopped and the capacitor 75 is discharged through the said contact 77. The relay is de-energized and the rest' contact 79 closes in preparation of the next operational cycle. The time constants are so selected that at this moment the switch 83 is again open after the original has passed through the sub-unit 4 of the exposure group.

A branch 70 is taken off the lead 69 and by-passes the switch 63. This branch 70 is connected to a lead 80. This lead contains a working contact 81 of the relay 71, associated with a working contact 82 of a relay 33 between the leads and 68 and behind the switch 63. When the relay 71 is energized, the lead 80 carries a voltage.

'The relay 83 is also energized and maintains this lead live even after the relay 71 has been de-energized after the opening of the switch 63. The motor 84 is mounted in the circuit 80 and drives through one or more transmission members the elements 16, 34, 38, 46, 47, 53, 54, 55, 56, 60 and 61, described already with reference to FIG. 1. This same circuit also contains the drying source 62. Connected to the leads 80', 68 is also a circuit 108, containing the intermediate exposure source Sil and a switch 107, as well as a series resistor 109 for varying the intensity. The said switch 107 is closed only during the passage of the copying material.

As explained in the preceding description, the exposure sources are energized immediately on the introduction of the original, together with all conveying elements of the apparatus. Whilst the exposure sources are again de-energized with a certain delay, determined by the design of the switch 63, after the passage of the original, the remaining elements continue to operate. A special control is provided for the dispenser, which is switched off automatically by means of delaying members after the required actuation period. The circuit of the relay 83 contains the switch 66 which is switched when the copying material leaves the apparatus and which responds with a certain time constant 50 that the contacts of the said switch 66 de-energize the relay 83 only when the trailing edge of the copying material has left the apparatus. Moreover, the relay 83 may itself be a delayed-action relay.

FIG. 3 shows a construction which is generally similar to that outlined hereinbefore. However, in this embodiment, the dispenser, shown at 36 in FIG. 1, has a storage reel which is associated with a cutter 85 of known construction, for example, such as are disclosed in US. Patent applications Ser. No. 315,221, Ser. No. 240,630, and in US. Patent specification No. 3,143,947. The take-01f from the reel 84 is effected by pairs of transport rollers 86, 87 which revolve continuously. These parts are also mounted in the lateral side walls of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates the pair of squeeze and transport rollers acting as moisture dosage arrangement. This drawing shows also parts of the lateral sidewalls 88, 89. The stubshafts 90, 91 are mounted rotatably, but axially undisplaceably. The stub shafts 92, 93 of the squeeze and transport roller 53 are mounted in bearing blocks 94, 95 which are movable in slots in the side walls 88, S9 in the direction of the arrow 96. These bearing blocks are afiected by the force of springs 97, 98, the upper ends or" which rest against abutments 99, 100. These abutments 99, N0 are adjustable by means of set screws 101, 102 in order to vary the contact pressure between the rollers 53, 54. The lower edges 103, 104 of the slots are so dimensioned that always a limited maximum pressure is guaranteed which may be adjusted by the tension of the said springs 97, 98.

Naturally, the exposure device may also comprise a surface or planar exposure device, such as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,076,399.

Having thus fully described and disclosed my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. An apparatus for making copies by means of copying materials provided exclusively with photographic silver salt solutions, operating as so-called recirculating paper, comprising a frame, an exposure station arranged in this frame which receives an original, means for exposing on copying material which passes the exposure a light image of said original as the latter traverses said exposure station; the arrangement of transportation means for the copying material downstream of the exposure device, in which transportation means there is provided within the said frame. and in the direction of advance of the copying material and downstream of the exposure station, a first developing arrangement for supplying a developing medium to the coating of the copying material and a second supply arrangement for processing liquid to the said coating of the copying material; and comprising, between the said first and the said second supply arrangements, an intermediate exposure source adjacent the means of transportation *for producing a reversal of said image on said copying material.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising in the transportation track between the said first and the said second supply arrangement, and at the point of the intermediate exposure source, an arrangement whereby the moisture content of the material is adjusted, said arrangement being located along the transportation track and serving to produce in the material a limited moisture content prior to the said material being affected by the said second exposure source.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said second exposure source is an electronic flash triggered off by a switching element associated with the transportation means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate exposure source is a very high intensity light source, the duration of the effects at which on the material is contr-olled by the width of an aperture in the transportation means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the moisture dosage arrangement is designed to form a transportation means, having a first and a second roller, mounted in the said frame, said rollers being peripherally resiliently urged one against the other and acting as a pair of squeeze rollers, wherein driving means in the transportation track drivingly actuate at least one of the said rollers; and comprising further mountings for these rollers with adjusting means for varying the contact pressure between these rollers by adjusting the gap thereinbetween.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said intermediate light source is arranged in a circuit, and comprising connecting means for supplying this circuit with current, and adjustable regulating means for varying the intensity of the said intermediate light source.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transportation means are equipped with guide members mounted in the frame, of which one guide member has three serially arranged orifices, through the first of which acts the first supply arrangement for supplying processing fluid to the transportation means, through the third of which the second supply arrangement acts so as to supply processing fluid to the transportation means, whilst through the second orifice acts the intermediate light source and wherein the said second orifice is equipped with adjustable shuttering means in order to permit the selective adjustment of the width of the said second orifice.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first and second supply arrangements are surface wetting devices, each equipped With a storage tank mounted in the said frame and containing one of the processing liquids; and comprising further each an application roller which is so mounted in the frame that a part of its circumference dips into the processing liquid in the said tank and the other part of its circumference projects to within the path of the means of transportation so as to make contact with the coating of a sheet of material advanced by the transporation means; and comprising driving means for the said application rollers.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein .the means of transportation are extended downstream of the second supply arrangement and comprising a drying unit mounted within the said frame and associated with the said transportation means, and affecting the coating of the photographic material moving through the transportation means in order to terminate the action of the processing medium applied by the said second supply arrangement.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising an optical device for the exposure device, and having a first exposure plate and a second exposure plate arranged in spaced relationship from one another and at which are mounted a first pressure and transport roller and a second pressure and transport roller, wherein the said first and the said second exposure plates and the said first and the said second pressure and transport rollers are arranged in the frame; and comprising driving means in the frame for driving the first and the second pressure and transport rollers; wherein furthermore the second exposure plate and pressure and transport roller are arranged in the transportation means in front of the first supply arrangement and there is provided, between the first and the second exposure plate a channel-shaped housing for the light path, said housing being angled so that the said first and second exposure plates are mounted at right angles to one another and a mirror arrangement is provided in the angled zone of the said channel; and comprising, in a substantially horizontal section of the channel-shaped housing, and on the upper side thereof, thefirst and the second supply arrangements and the intermediate exposure source; and comprising a guide element in the direction of movement behind the second supply arrangement for reversing the passing material through about degrees; and comprising above the said first and second supply arrangements a further transportation means extending from the reversing guide element to a delivery slot and mounted in the frame, wherein a drying unit is located within the frame above the said guide element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING COPIES BY MEANS OF COPYING MATERIAL PROVIDED EXCLUSIVELY WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC SILVER SALT SOLUTINS, OPERATING AS SO-CALLED RECIRCULATING PAPER, COMPRISING A FRAME, AN EXPOSURE STATION ARRANGED IN THIS FRAME WHICH RECEIVES AN ORIGINAL, MEANS FOR EXPOSING ON COPYING MATERIAL WHICH PASSES THE EXPOSURE A LIGHT IMAGE OF SAID ORIGINAL AS THE LATTER TRAVERSE SAID EXPOSURE STATION; THE ARRANGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MEANS FOR THE COPYING MATERIAL DOWNSTREAM OF THE EXPOSURE DEVICE, IN WHICH TRANSPORTATION MEANS THERE IS PROVIDED WITHIN THE MATERIAL AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE EXPOSURE STATION, A FIRST DEVELOPING ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPLYING A DEVELOPING MEDIUM TO THE COATING OF THE COPYING MATERIAL AND A SECOND SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT FOR PROCESSING LIQUID TO THE SAID COATING OF THE COPYING MATERIAL; AND COMPRISING, BETWEEN THE SAID FIRST AND THE SAID SECOND SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS, AN INTERMEDIATE EXPOSURE SOURCE ADAJCENT THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PRODUCING A REVERSAL OF SAID IMAGE ON SAID COPYING MATERIAL. 